1 Corinthians 9:16

When I proclaim the message about Christ, I cannot boast about doing it, because Christ has commanded me to do it. I would be very miserable (OR, I am afraid that God would punish me) if I did not proclaim that message.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

In Context

15However, I have not requested that you give me those things that I have a right to receive from you. Furthermore, I am writing this to you, not in order to request you to begin giving me financial help now. I would rather die than to receive help from you. I do not want anyone to prevent me from boasting about my proclaiming God’s message to you without receiving financial help from you.

17If I had decided by myself to proclaim it, God would reward me. But I did not decide by myself to do that. I am simply doing the work that God entrusted to me.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 9

Cross References

Isaiah 6:5Then I said, “Terrible things will happen to me, because everything that I say [MTY] is sinful, and I live among people who constantly say [MTY] sinful things. I will be destroyed because I have seen the Commander of the armies of angels!”

Jeremiah 20:7One day I said this to Yahweh: “Yahweh, when you chose me to be a prophet,you deceived me, and I allowed you to deceive me. You insisted that I become a prophet and you are stronger than I am. And now everyone [HYP] ridicules me. They make fun of me all the day.

Amos 3:8Everyone certainly becomes terrified [RHQ] when they hear a lion roar, and if Yahweh the Lord has given messages to prophets like me, we certainly must [RHQ] proclaim those messages, even if they cause people to become terrified.

Matthew 25:16The servant who had received 5,000 dollars went immediately and used that money to gain 5,000 dollars more.

Acts 4:20But as for us, we cannot obey you. We will not stop telling people about the things that we (exc) have seen Jesus do and what we have heard him teach.”

Acts 9:15But the Lord Jesus told Ananias, “Go to Saul! Do what I say, because I have chosen him to serve me in order that he might speak about me [MTY] both to non-Jewish people and their kings and to the Israeli people.

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 9:16-19

The Apostle's Devotedness. ( a. d. 57.) 15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18 What is… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study 1 Corinthians 9:16